For the first time ever, I went to Bob & Barbara's on a Monday. The sun was still up and there was no bouncer at the door (much different than how it is later in the week, trust me!). Inside, however, it looked the same as it always does--ambiently lit and lined floor to ceiling in antique Pabst memorabilia. I was there to meet Oskar, bartender and son of the current owner (only the second in the bar's long history). Bob & Barbara's was the first place I thought of when I started as an Atlas Obscura adventurer--it's an iconic part of Philly that's owed its place in history (move over, Liberty Bell). It sounds like a joke, but I'm being (mostly) serious--Bob & Barbara's is a community gathering place; as I was sitting at the bar Oskar greeted every entering patron by name.
Since 1969 the bar has been the place to go for an easy beer or weekend Jazz; stepping through the door you could be walking back in time; the place is ageless. It was Oskar's dad who started the Pabst collection that dominates the walls; the beer now synonymous with the place itself. Likewise, it's under his reign that the Thursday night drag shows (featuring Miss Lisa Lisa) were introduced. The Monday night quiet has a different charm than the raucous crowds of Saturdays--I had the opportunity to peruse the vintage articles and photographs on the walls (including lovely pictures of Bob & Barbara themselves that I had never noticed in all my visits).
I couldn't tell you where I first heard that Bob & Barbara's was the birthplace of the Citywide (referred to as "The Special" in house). But I know I never doubted it--Bob & Barbara's is exactly the kind of place where I'd imagine Philly's infamous special being founded. Oskar told me the story of Rick D and his one-night-only special that's been served every night for decades in every corner of the city (talk about a legacy). Bob & Barbara's doesn't brag about this claim to fame; they don't need to. People come for the atmosphere, the sense of community, and the lack of pretention. Any given night folks of all ages who wouldn't otherwise ever cross paths sit at the bar, come for the shows, and chat over drinks. For over fifty years Bob & Barbara's has been a fixture on South Street, drawing people in with its neon lights and rhythmic Jazz, and I, for one, am looking forward to the next fifty. Cheers!
